The Lega Italiano Calcio Professionistico (Italian for Professional Football Italian League), commonly known as Lega Pro[1] (Pro League), is the governing body that runs the third tier of professional football competitions in Italy, the Serie C. It used several names in the past, including Lega Professionisti Serie C. It is a full member of European Leagues.

[2] The league was created in 1959 as Lega Nazionale Semiprofessionisti by the FIGC Commissioner Bruno Zauli on the base of the old Lega IV Serie.

Former C clubs protested for their lost Lega Calcio membership, and they spent the following twenty years to regain a professional status.

The league, led by Artemio Franchi, was expanded in 1967 to 222 clubs.

The new name was Lega Nazionale Serie C, and its status became professional.